I did say no politics …..but
I swore I was going to keep my radical politics of balance out of this blog, but I find myself so dissatisfied with the lack of real debate or community vision that I feel a need to step into the ring. Which may or may not find support amongst my international readers and may hurt my chances of selling you a house. So be it, every now and then you actually have to stand up for something you believe in. The things that I believe in are far the most part ignored or not supported, so therefore I must be right.
A little background; my Area (A) has no election this year. The local Director (as well as all other rural Directors) has been acclaimed. In Area A there is much to be done and it saddens me that there is so much cynicism that no one could be bothered to run against a candidate who may have done an adequate job of overseeing staff reports, but has actually accomplished very little of substance for our Area. Hornby and Denman have received some help with beach access and some parks have been established in other rural areas, but not ours. We have no recycling, new parks, trail protection or infrastructure advancement of any kind whatsoever. Yet my taxes have doubled in three years. I should be marching in the street, burning effigies.
Hornby and Denman only pay taxes for recycling / rubbish removal, recreation, parks and would also be taxed for Island Library services. Planning and Engineering are dealt with by the Islands Trust. Yet they get to vote for a Director who is responsible for voting on all aspects of the Regional District. They essentially have representation without full taxation. The inverse of the classic “taxation without representation”. Hornby and Denman Island have one of the highest per capita voter turnouts in Canada at all levels of elections and it is almost completely homogeneous in its voting pattern. So in Area A it has become apparent that if you are not the preferred candidate of Denman or Hornby (Denby), then you cannot win, despite the fact that they do pay for any of the planning or engineering expenses and will never be part of a regional water or sewer system.
I love Hornby and think that Denman is also lovely, but they should not hold the power on who is going to represent me on issues of planning and future infrastructure needs. And that is how it goes in the Comox Valley. Everywhere I look, I see issues that baffle me, planning decisions, spending decisions and engineering decisions that appear to make no sense. We have 19 different councillors and 4 different mayors ( if you count the regional district chair which you sure as heck should) for a population of under 70,000 people). This is madness. If we want to be a community that cares about the homeless, the under housed and the under employed, we need to be able to produce jobs that create a tax base inside an efficient local governance structure.
We have got a do this for the kids. The traditional economic formula for rural BC and good Small Town Livin’ has been broken and we have evolved into a economy of service to retirees and tourists or of tax paid government support (military, education , health care) and that is not sufficient. The private sector is the key to developing well paid jobs, so that housing is affordable. A community that is economically active is able to support the arts, amateur sport and the disenfranchised. If municipal governance was efficient in it’s delivery of services and accrued more taxation through it’s commercial taxation it would have more in the kitty.
I have a client that has a full duplex on a cul de sac near the college that have “non conforming” ( illegal ) suites in them. They are cute, tidy and fairly priced. He is a model landlord, his handyman changes the light bulbs. There have been no noise/parking complaints and the area is full of illegal suites. The city is monitoring those households that pay for extra garbage tickets. The city of Courtenay has turned my clients life into a nightmare because of his suites. It appears the building inspectors don’t have enough new construction work so they have turned their eyes on the taxpayer. Without suites like these. there would be no affordable housing for students attending North Island College, there are no dorms and Downtown Courtenay is 5 km away. The situation is even more insane when you consider that this is the same government body that is prepared to pay 2.5 million dollars for an emergency shelter. Two different users and situations, except one costs the taxpayer and the other does not.
The pure hypocrisy of so many decisions has created a jaded and cynical electorate on both sides of the divide. I will not get into left and right politics, because local politics should always be of the middle, of what makes the most common sense and is the most cost effective. When municipal politics and governance is an industry, we as tax payers can no longer afford it. It is high time we looked at the overall governance structure of this Valley.
We live in a paradise that has the potential to be a model small town community, but lip service is worthless and getting tired. If we truly believe in addressing the issues of marginal housing and emergency shelters, lets make sure we do it in the appropriate place and with the right budget. Lets make sure we have an understanding of the objectives, which should be to eliminate homelessness and to foster an environment where every citizen can find a place to call home.
If we really care about tourism and agribusiness lets actually protect the mountain bike trails and have a conversation about land usage and ALR zoning that is reflective of the modern realities of farming. We are surrounded by massive tracts of logged land that has amazing potential. Instead we poo poo any change to anything.
If we really want to be rich in Arts and Culture we need to help foster an environment where a living can be made. How is possible that not one candidate, from any part of the spectrum , has realised that local governments can do much to attract industry and position themselves as desirable areas for technology industries.
If we believe in knowledge based economies as being superior to the traditional destroy and pillage economies, what can we do to get Sage Hills University moving forward, How can we make the North Island College a University. What is the holdback on moving forward? I think I know the answer but am afraid to acknowledge it. History shows us that change is inevitable, how we manage that change will determine the kind of place we will live in.
Please go out and vote, for who I do not know. But lets hope that as change occurs, there are those who will put the interest of the community ahead of themselves. Perhaps the election will produce some candidates of vision, as of yet only Erik Ericsson in Courtenay seems to get any of these concepts. Dan Jackson from Comox is the only candidate who seems to get that we should be doing what we do for the kids and that without economic growth they will disappear.
I hope that the debates will produce ideas and vision. Please push this blog around, forward, like, re-twitter or post on power poles. But lets get talking, left and right. Division will give us nothing but strip malls and anger. Anyone ready to compromise for Vinyards in clear cuts with mountain bike trails between them. That is a beautiful vision that requires much compromise. Anyone out there?
harvest time
It has been too long since I have put out a new blog, but Small town Livin has been keeping me busy. Whether it is getting all the wood needed for the winter, picking chanterelle mushrooms,plums, blackberries, apples or hazel nuts, it’s busy . And of course there is work.
One sentence market update- If you are looking for a bargain or can list a home at a bargain price, there is a deal waiting to happen.
Every year I set a series goals for harvesting local food that I can use throughout the year. Some years I am more successful then others. This year has been pretty good. I even managed to bring Chanterelles and Scallops back to montreal for Thanksgiving. I try to harvest enough chanterelles for pizza throughout the year and have recently made a vast amount of a green tomato pickle/relish. Small town living means eating great local food throughout the year, if you can find the time and energy to harvest. There are great deals on all kinds of produce and even my limited gardening skills produce large amounts of oregano, sage and tyme. Harvesting your own apples and turning them into crumble is very gratifying. Our chickens are laying eggs and an omelette with fresh chanterelles is pretty fine living, breakfast or dinner.
Every year I swear I am going to accomplish more then I ever do and I fantasize about doing nothing but harvesting and preserving food. Maybe I am reading to much Game of Thrones, but I love the idea of a larder full of food preserved in different ways. We got five chickens and after much effort and stress they are producing beautiful eggs. Taking them from chicks to laying has been a great learning experience and now I want to get a pig or some goats. I dream of prosciutto hanging in a meat shed.
Pretty much every day could be spent on some chore if you chose to can, pickle, jam, freeze, dry or bake. At times it’s bit overwhelming and makes me long for the days of being a country squire with nothing other then the county jam competition on my mind…… Anyway reality calls and soccer practice is in half an hour. But it is possible to achieve a slower pace of life and greater appreciation for day to day living . By involving yourself in producing some of the food that you and your family eat has ancient appeal and satisfaction. Living in a place that is near wood, well priced produce and wild produce makes it a little easier to do. Next year I am freezing corn. I meant to get to it this year but…. and hunting, I think I am ready
Not so far from here
I have recently returned from a Realtor’s’ version of a vacation from lovely Hornby Island, my personal favourite Gulf Island. While it can be a long and painful trip from the lower mainland, it is a breeze from the Comox Valley. I was also recently on Decourcey Island and have just come back from a night on Quadra this past weekend , also easy trips from the Valley. Being closer to the remote recreational spots is another great reason Small Town Livin’(g) is a lovely way to live.
Getting to unique and secluded locations is actually doable , so you do. Vacationing with kids and family from afar does not need the additional stress of long travel time. There are lifetimes of adventure to be had on the Island , from seashore to alpine. Every community on the Island has mountain bike trails. There are many deserted beaches still to explore on the west coast and even more seashore on the eastern side of the island. From the Southern Gulf Island to Port Hardy the maritime exploring is endless. Strathcona Park offers and Alpine experience to rival the Mainland coast mountains and the Rockies. When you live here all of those places are reasonable to reach.
Hornby Island is a national treasure, I can’t think of a nicer beach then Tribune bay. The mountain bike trails are brilliantly designed and maintained. They are ridable by all level of bikers and a fantastic place to get introduced to the sport. I have considered a trail review, but the area is so contained and the trails so accessible that it just isn’t necessary. Buy a map at the bike/sports shop and you will be fine. My brother in law from Montreal was thrilled to ride the trails there after not mtn biking for many years. He rode my twenty year old Gary Fisher and had a blast. We did a route on my birthday that really highlighted the unique micro environments of the island, from cliffside arbutus to rainforest moss covered floors. I am looking forward to next summers trip and hope that my siblings and some friends will once again converge at the same time to that magic little island. I have been visiting every year for almost fifteen years and I am always amazed at how the world melts away once you get off the ferry and drive onto Hornby.
- Almost at the top of Devils Kitchen
Decourcey Island is another little gem, that is found in the Southern Gulf Islands, it is also another pain in the ass location if you are not on the island. The Southern Gulf Islands are another national treasure that should be experienced by all Canadians. Decourcey is a non ferry island that is overrun with arbutus trees, solitude and quiet. There is a lovely marine park, a gorgeous walking park and is next to a wonderful cruising area . If you have a boat there are endless sandstone beaches and uninhabited islets to explore. An old friend picked me up south of Nanaimo at a boat launch and away we went.
The last island that visited this year was Quadra and it was far too short a visit. The island is very different from it’s southern cousins. It feels like a place that is a real working community and has been for many years. We went for a swim at Rebecca spit, which was a little colder then Hornby, but very lovely. My father in law managed to have a great day fishing with my nephews and we had a lovely dinner at The Herriot Bay Inn. I look forward to getting back there and exploring the Island. What struck me most about Quadra is how large it is and the feeling that you were in remote BC. the surrounding waters are supposed to be a kayakers heaven, with lots of protected bays and marine parks.
So Small Town Livin(g) is also about getting out of the small town and living. When it is easier to get away, you do. After a wonderful summer of exploring this island and the smaller islands I have realised that I don’t spend enough time exploring the remote areas near the Comox Valley and I am making a personal vow to go where I have not gone before.
See you soon in the Comox Valley
Every once in a while, you meet someone who understands customer service, who really gets it. A business person who recognizes the value in treating people right. A person who is in business for the long term, rather than the short term, and who, therefore, can see beyond the quick sale. James Smith is clearly is one of these realtors. I know from experience.
Recently, my wife and I, and our two young kids, left the craziness of the big city life in Vancouver and visited the Comox Valley, as we do at least once a year. Each year, we seem to get closer and closer to relocating there, for reasons that James can tell you about. For the first time, we decided to look more seriously, and through a series of coincidental meetings, we met James. Unlike previous experiences looking at homes in Courtenay, James actually went out of his way to accommodate us and took us on a three-hour tour of several homes in the valley. But, not just any homes. Homes that we specifically asked to see. In other words, he responded to our needs and interests, rather than imposing his views on us. We didn’t waste his time and he didn’t waste ours.
While traveling between homes, James gave us a really good sense of the state of the market in the Comox Valley. Furthermore, he steered us away from properties that weren’t up to our standards or needs, even if priced higher than the ones we were looking at. If that wasn’t enough, James even made room for our child’s car seat in the back of his vehicle!
Is this the kind of service one should expect from a realtor? Absolutely! Is this the the kind of service one usually gets from a realtor? In our experience, the answer is no. Not that there aren’t other realtors that don’t go out of their way to make you happy, that don’t pressure the client, that respond to emails in a timely fashion. It’s just that realtors
like James seem to be in the minority these days, especially when the market is hot.
So, after all James did for us, we didn’t find a house and we are back fighting the traffic in Vancouver. Will we find a home in the Comox Valley? Possibly. When the time is right, will James be our realtor? Absolutely! If we end up not moving to the Island, will we still refer our friends to James? Unequivocally, yes! Like I said, James “gets it.”
Thanks James for going way beyond our expectations. No doubt, we’ll see you soon in the Comox Valley!
Michael Ford
Risk. Without it there is no reward.
Summer has finally arrived and have just had my first swim in the lake. The children declared it too cold, but it was fine. The cooler temperatures have been great for bike riding and I have rediscovered many old school xc trails with my kids, who are starting to enjoy the sport. After picking away at it for the last six months I have finally finished my trail review of Forbidden Plateau. It is fairly comprehensive and would be helpful for hikers or runners.
The market remains a bit of a butterfly, and solidly sits in the buyers favor. High end homes remain on the market and affordable family homes in good conditions with attractive prices ( late 06- mid 07) are selling. I have had some great success in saving my buyers money off the list price and the motivated vendors appear to be accepting that it is indeed a buyers market.
The Comox Valley is often perceived as a retirement area, but my recent work indicates the opposite. Over 70 % of my buyers this year are either new to the area, are buying a first time or are upgrading from an entry level home. Despite the drop of Albertans retiring here ( have fun with 40 degrees in the desert), young people are throwing away perfectly good careers and moving to this valley for the quality of life . Family , friends, food and wine is about all we really have in this world, so if chasing the golden monkey is your thing, then I suppose no one can change your mind that there is more to life.
Risk. Without it there is no reward.
Anyone who is out there reading this, in your cramped urban quarters, and is planning a trip to the area get a hold of me and I will give you a free ( you might have to buy me a coffee) tour of the area and the different zones. I recently met a young family from Vancouver and will be surprised if they donʼt come back for good. I enjoy showing people around the valley and most of you will be surprised at the value and variety.
Delay no longer, seize this moment, there is a way out . Risk will equal reward.
Gotta go swimming at the lake, Iʼve got this great spot, a glacier view and no people….
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